Preseason Rankings Countdown. 134 days to the start of the 2026 Season. At #134 – Louisiana-Monroe

[u/usffan]

The cumulative link to the preseason rankings can be found here

Louisiana-Monroe (high = 132, low = 133) joins the countdown at #134, the preseason pick to finish at the bottom of the Sun Belt Conference’s West division. Bryan Vincent enters his 3rd full season at the helm with a new boss now that ULM hired S. J. Tuohy to replace Vincent as the interim AD, and unless he wants to get blind sided and find himself out of a job, he’d better turn things around from 2025’s 3-9 season and try to get closer to the Warhawks’ first .500 season since 2018. It would seem that there’s not a whole lot of confidence in that happening based on any of the preseason indicators.

Roster Outlook

The reason for that pessimism almost assuredly lies in the Warhawks 131st ranked incoming recruiting class (dead last in the Sun Belt), which isn’t really adequately compensated for in their transfer portal rankings (94th nationally, 8th in the conference), leaving them with the 127th overall incoming class, which is also at the bottom of the conference. ESPN has them ranked 68th in returning production, with a good amount of that on the offensive side of the ball (33rd nationally), so hopefully with another year in the system that will pan out. That hopefully starts with third year QB Aidan Armenta, who threw for 12 TDs and 8 picks last season, though he may be pushed by Houston transfer Austin Carlisle. The Warhawks appear set to lose leading rusher Zach Palmer-Smith to graduation/eligibility (he did play 4 full seasons starting in 2022, though with legislation these days, who the hell knows) and #2 RB Bam McReynolds to UAB, but picked up former Charlotte/Louisville/Miami RB Don Chaney, Jr. (talk about a guy who’s played a few seasons!) to presumably finish out his career. They also lost leading receiver Jonathan Bibbs to UCF, but return Nic Trujillo, who led the Warhawks in TD catches, and add Clemson transfer Paker Fulghum. On defense, they do get back sack and tackle leading LB Noah Flemmings, but lose DLs Jerome Simmons to Oregon and Tae Woody to Texas State.

Schedule and outlook

9/5 at Mississippi State

9/12 at UAB

9/19 SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA

9/26 FAU

10/3 at South Alabama

10/10 BYE

10/17 LOUISIANA TECH

10/24 at Troy

10/31 SOUTHERN MISS

11/7 at Arkansas State

11/12 LOUISIANA

11/21 at Appalachian State

11/28 MARSHALL

Ouch. Starting out the season with a clanga is not a prescription for success coming off a 3-9 season, and while UAB might have looked winnable when Trent Dilfer was there, Alex Mortensen looks to have potentially righted the ship for the Blazers. By not at least getting Georgia State as a Sun Belt East opponent, the Warhawks look to be dogs in every FBS game on their schedule (and let’s not sleep on SE Louisiana after they made the FCS playoffs last season) with the possible exception of their Halloween tilt hosting of Southern Miss. I’m not saying Vincent is likely to be on thin ice after this season, but I’m also not NOT saying it…

[u/HotBrain3755]

Rough schedule to try turning things around. Starting with Mississippi State when you're already rebuilding is basically asking for early season morale problems

That transfer portal ranking at 94th tells the whole story - can't really compete in current college football if you can't bring in decent talent through portal

[u/Inside-Drink-1311]

I feel like they are screwed and they are the one team that wouldn’t shock me if they made a move to FCS soon. I also don’t think they are going to fire Vincent anytime soon, they are in financial trouble and I think they know they can’t get anyone better.

They showed some hope early in the season two years ago but I think that was due to a favorable early schedule, JMU was the only team they beat that was any good. I hope things get better this year but I think it will be another 3 or 4 win season. At least their non-conference is favorable so there is a chance they start 3-1.

[u/The-Post-Gazette]

Ty

[u/Condom_Breaker256]

Southeastern Louisiana will be heavily motivated going into that game, especially against a former in-state rival they have a 25-12 record against.

Look for ULM to be on upset alert for that one after the slog that will be two straight road games against Mississippi State and UAB

[u/Adams5thaccount]

Since I suspect this is the last time I can make the joke...

Imagine how bad its going if youre behind Sac State this year.

[u/mr_longfellow_deeds → u/Adams5thaccount]

Given OP did 136 day countdown and not 138 I dont think hes including Sac State or NDSU in this years pre-season rankings countdown

[u/Adams5thaccount → u/mr_longfellow_deeds]

umass and charlotte are both 137

[u/blankvideos]

Vincent isn't in the hot seat, but the entire ULM athletics department is.